American Association of Clinical Urologists, Inc.

AACU News & Notes

Urologists Among Specialists Making Mark on U.S. Politics

posted: September 13, 2018
Noted in many recent accounts of doctors running for Congress is the fact that, since January 2017, urologists have been fortunate to have one of their own serving in the U.S. House of... Read More

California Lawmakers Prescribe Limits on “Intersex” Procedures

posted: August 30, 2018
August 30, 2018 — The California Legislature approved a resolution Tuesday (August 28) that declares the state’s support for policies that would deny parents life-affirming treatment... Read More

AACU, UROPAC Gain Momentum on the Hill

posted: August 30, 2018
On multiple occasions, AACU members have met with lawmakers to discuss several priorities for urologists, including administrative burden, USPSTF reform, specialty physician shortages, and access... Read More

AACU Responds to CMS' Request for Information on Stark Law Reform

posted: August 28, 2018
On August 24, the AACU submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to a request for information regarding the physician self-referral (aka Stark) law... Read More

2019 Medicare Payment Rule and Quality Payment Program Proposal

posted: August 23, 2018
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 12, 2018, published the CY 2019 Proposed Rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), which also included regulations for the... Read More

Payers Expand Coverage for Technologies That Alleviate Radiation Therapy Side Effects

posted: July 30, 2018
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer among men in the United States. The National Cancer Institute estimated 161,360 new... Read More

Right to Try Legislation: Questions Surround Its Substance

posted: July 18, 2018
A bill commonly known as “Right to Try,” or S.204, appears to be a step in the right direction for expanding access to treatment for terminally ill patients who have exhausted all other... Read More

AACU Joins Others in Opposing Potential Changes to Medicare Part B

posted: July 17, 2018
The AACU joined numerous other organizations in a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar urging him to reject recent proposals to change Medicare Part B by creating a new Competitive Acquisition Program... Read More

AACU Comments on Drug Pricing Reform Proposal, Supports “Gag Clauses” Ban

posted: July 5, 2018
The AACU joined several other organizations in submitting comments to the Department of Health and Human Services in response to a request for information included in the Trump administration's... Read More

AACU Joins Urologic Community in Letter on Final Recommendation for Prostate Cancer Screening

posted: June 25, 2018
In a letter dated May 20, the AACU joined the AUA, LUGPA, and numerous organizations from the urologic community in submitting comments to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on its... Read More

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@TheAACU

Advocacy Priorities

Prostate Cancer Screening and Awareness

Eliminating Misdiagnosis and Reducing Wasteful Medicare SpendingEvery 20 minutes an American man dies from prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that 161,360 men were told they have prostate cancer in 2017. Early detection is critical because research shows the five-year survival...
IPAB Repeal

IPAB permanently repealed in a major victory for the AACU and urology communityThe AACU is pleased to report that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (H.R. 1892) included provisions to repeal the Independent Physicians Advisory Board (IPAB), a 15-member panel of unelected officials that had the...
Graduate Medical Education and Physician Workforce Shortage

Ensuring a Well-Trained Physician Workforce Increase Federally Funded Physician Training ProgramsRequestUrologists urge Congress to acknowledge the importance of specialty medicine and address urological workforce shortages that jeopardize patient access to care. We urge lawmakers to support...
The Impact of Pharmacy Benefit Managers on Access to Affordable Treatment

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have a significant impact on prescription drug costs and the ability of patients to obtain the medications they need in a timely and affordable manner, and yet very little is known about their role. The AACU is dedicated to working with policymakers at both the...
Improve Preventive Task Force Recommendations, Preserve Access to Prostate Cancer Screening

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) plays a critical role in preventive care because its recommendations dictate what preventive services many health plans must provide without cost sharing. Currently, however, the USPSTF has little accountability. Task Force members are...
Medical Liability Reform: Protect Physician Volunteers During National Disasters

Protection for Physician Disaster VolunteersClinical urologists urge support for the Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2017, introduced in the House by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-7) and in the Senate by Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA). This crucial legislation seeks to shield medical...
Modernize Law Restricting Coordinated Care (“Stark Law”)

When Congress enacted the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, it replaced a fundamentally flawed reimbursement framework with a program promoting value-based care delivery. Value-based care, as measured by the new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and alternative payment...
Patients Over Paperwork: Reducing the Burden of Medicare Red Tape

Urologists across the country treat a high volume of Medicare patients and therefore deal with the program’s numerous requirements and complex payment structures on a near daily basis. The AACU is dedicated to working with legislators and policymakers to identify ways to simplify and...

State Advocacy

Fair Contracting and Medical Practice Freedom

Where We Stand Ensure openness and fairness in health care provider contacts. Prevent third-party payors from changing the terms of their provider contract without notice to the provider and without the consent of the provider. Ensure that physician licensure is based upon a physician's...
Medical Liability Reform — Expert Witness Qualifications

Strengthen expert witness standards Ensure that expert witness is from the same specialty as the defendant physician Prevent frivolous lawsuits Improve the practice environment for physicians in your stateWhenever a physician’s conduct is being called into question, it is only fair...
Prostate Cancer Awareness & Assessment

Where We Stand Continue the progress that has been made in the reduction of prostate cancer morbidity and mortality with the appropriate use of prostate cancer testing. Ensure that third-party payors provide for the reimbursement of prostate cancer testing when the patient and his physician...
Uniform Prior Authorization for Prescriptions and Health Services

Where We Stand Prior authorizations cost the health system $728 million in 2012. Prior authorization requests must use a single form, no more than two pages in length. Forms must available for both access and submission electronically. Requests are deemed approved if no response is...
Work Force — Scope of Practice

Where We Stand Allow the maximum patient-to-physician ratio to increase based on the number of physician assistants in a practice. Expand the ability of nurse practitioners and physician assistants to supervise medical assistants when doctors aren’t on the premises.Proactive Physician...